each according to his needs.
Unhappily, due to the fact that the Proletarian Paradise is surrounded
by potential enemies, we have not as yet established this formula.
Instead, it is now from each according to his abilities and to each
according to his contribution. Consequently, the most useful members
of our society are drawn into the ranks of the Party, and,
contributing the most, are most highly rewarded. The Party consists of
somewhat less than one per cent of the population."
"And is for all practical purposes, hereditary," Anderson or Dickson
said.
Kossuth, in indignation, parroted, unknowingly, the lieutenant's
earlier words. "That, sir, is simply not true."
Joe said, soothing over the ruffled waters, "And the ... what did you
call them ... techno-intellectuals?"
"They are the second most useful members of society. Our technicians,
scientists--although many of these are members of the Party, of
course--teachers, artists, Pink and Red Army officers, and so forth."
Max looked around from the front seat. "Well, gee, that sounds just
about like Uppers, Middles and Lowers to me."
Joe Mauser cleared his throat and said to the Hungarian who was
glaring at Max. "And the Pink Army?"
But Kossuth bit out to Max, "Don't be silly, my man. There are no
classes in the Proletarian Paradise."
"Yeah," Max said, "and back in the West-world we got People's
Capitalism and the people own the corporations. Yeah."
"That'll be all, Max," Joe said, getting in before the two lieutenants
could snap something at the fiesty little man. Joe had already decided
that the lieutenants were both Uppers, and was somewhat surprised at
their lowly rank.
Kossuth brought his attention back to Joe. "We're almost to our
destination, Major Mauser. However, briefly, some of the more recent
additions to the Sov-world, particularly in the more backward areas of
southern Asia, have not quite adjusted to the glories of the
Proletarian Paradise."
Both of the lieutenants chuckled softly.
Kossuth said, "So it is found necessary to dispatch punitive
expeditions against them. A current such expedition is in the Kunlun
Mountains in that area once known as Sinkiang to the north, Tibet to
the south. Kirghiz and Kazakhs nomads in the region persist in
rejecting the Party and its program. The Pink Army is in the process
of eliminating these reactionary elements."
Joe was puzzled. He said, "You mean, in all these years you haven't
been able
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